Liverpool Philharmonic scheme builds new local audiences for live music
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s Leap into Live Music! programme exceeded its targets for encouraging newcomers to concerts for 2014, the orchestra has announced. The scheme offers free and reduced price tickets to people who would not normally attend. Of the 1358 people who registered for the scheme, 70 per cent were from areas specifically targeted for low levels of engagement. Fifty eight per cent used the scheme to attend their first concert.
Leap into Live Music! is designed to enable audiences who, due to economic disadvantage or a lack of confidence, have not previously engaged with the arts. It enriches the visitor experience with pre-concert opportunities to meet musicians. Scheme participants can also enjoy tours of the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall with talks and family themed activities. Assistance with transport is available to improve access to the venue.
Since launching the scheme in 2014, Liverpool Philharmonic has successfully established the scheme through partnerships with a number of Children’s Centres in Liverpool; housing associations and community groups through Liverpool Centre for Voluntary Service (LCVS); employers including the Park Foods Group and National Museums Liverpool; QVC and health services through the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust.
PHF made a grant of £500,000 to Liverpool Philharmonic in 2013 as one of five Paul Hamlyn Club Awards, part of the programme of gifts celebrating the Foundation’s 25th anniversary.
Beth Wells, Leap into Live Music! Programme Manager said:
“Thanks to the generous support of the Paul Hamlyn Club Leap into Live Music! is enabling a broader range of individuals and communities to experience the excellence of Liverpool Philharmonic’s music-making. We will continue to work closely and innovatively with our community partners to engage new audiences that truly reflect our city in enjoying music of the highest quality on stage at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and in the welcome we offer to all our visitors.”
Dorothee Irving, Grants Officer at PHF, who oversees all of the Paul Hamlyn Club Awards, commented:
“Leap into Live Music! has quickly established itself with a welcoming offer which opens up Liverpool Philharmonic to new audiences. The scheme has enabled the organisation to forge relationships with an impressive range of new and sometimes unexpected community partners. These hold great promise for the future and we hope that many of Liverpool Philharmonic’s new visitors will choose to return many times in the future.”